Finding your superpowers

A lot of people have been talking about superheroes recently, something to do with a huge movie that just came out. We promise we’re not going to give you any spoilers here – we’re just going to give you some tips on how to spoil yourself.

Discovering kryptonite can be a good thing

Diabetes and celiac disease are inarguably tough to live with, but with the right diet often times people with them can live healthy, happy, and long lives just like the rest of us. And oddly enough, learning from the dietary restrictions people with these conditions have is a great way to make everybody healthier and more productive.

People in both camps need to keep a close eye on what, and the amount of carbs they consume, and food researchers have found this applies to pretty much everybody. We’re not saying to totally cut out bread and the like, just to keep an eye on how much you have. Too much causes your body to produce more insulin, in turn sending sleep hormones to the brain. And nobody likes that 2 o’clock “crash” feeling.

On the flip side, it’s important to stick to a good eating schedule and never skip meals. Doing this leads to a similar, bit much milder, effect of a diabetic having hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. When that happens. It’s crazy to think about, but this has been proven to directly tie into willpower and ability to stay focused. To sum it up, a low blood sugar means less ability to focus and stay on task. Eating on schedule also runs your biological clock.

So tell your body when to power up.

Having a huge dinner a few hours before bed? Subconsciously that tells your body it’s time to get to work, making it harder to sleep. There’s a reason you’ve heard the old adage “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” They are all important, but having the right food, and right amount of food, in the morning tells the rest of your body, “Hey guys, let’s get to work.” Sticking to the schedule mentioned earlier helps you maintain that focus and energy throughout the day, knocking out tasks like Superman instead of Clark Kent.

So what are the right foods?

Wake up with egg on your face

If the morning meal is the backbone of healthy living, eggs are the spine. If you remember the old slogan “part of a complete breakfast,” try this on for size: eggs contain all nine essential amino acids. Making them a complete source of protein. If you need any more reason to go poaching in the morning, consider the following. Being filled with the B vitamin choline helps eggs spark reactive sensors in your brain, meaning increased memory and reaction times. How’s that for a superpower?

Just remember we’re all Aquaman

Water. Yea, yea, it’s technically not food, and everybody knows it’s vital. So we won’t dwell on this too much, just going to drop some quick knowledge bombs on ya – feel free to power read.

Over 70% of your body is composed of the ol’ H2O, so make sure you’re constantly replenishing the supply. A common best practice is to drink 16 ounces of water every three hours.

Eight glasses a day is more than it seems, but it’s a lot easier to stay on top of your game when you stay on top of getting those down. Some people like keeping a large Nalgene or another type of water bottle on their desk to sip from throughout the day. Or if you feel like being social, the water cooler was the original social network – take a few trips throughout the day and talk to your coworkers IRL.

Go nuts

Specifically, grab some almonds and walnuts. These delicious little guys are filled with antioxidants, vitamin E, and amino acids. All that science jargon basically means your body’s getting the nutrients needed to help with memory. And if you’re looking to Hulk out and get swole, they’re a great protein source. Granted, it’ll take a lot more than eating some nuts to be the next Schwarzenegger. But who needs that anyways.

Brooding? Get Dark

Too many processed sugars are a huge problem in many people’s diets, but that doesn’t mean you have to ignore your sweet tooth. Dark chocolate is actually one of the better snacks to nibble on. The magnesium helps relieve stress, while the caffeine and fatty acids can give a little boost of energy when the to-do list starts to turn to an “oh crap I can’t” one. See? Told ya it’s all pretty tasty. Here’s another:

Be fishy

When you find yourself looking to really boost your energy levels, try one of humanity’s oldest secret formulas: omega-3 fatty acid. Usually, we just call it fish. Here are some benefits to weigh when upping your pescatarian participation – the nutrient helps prevent heart disease, arthritis, aids people asthma and ADHD. The super swimmers have even been proven to help treat depression if you’re down in the doldrums.

Remember – no hero is exactly the same

Find the foods that fight for you. A popular program over the past few years has been the whole 30 diet. What it aims to do is cut out all but the essential foods for thirty days, but don’t worry, most of your favorites are still there. After a month is up, start experimenting with what you cut out. If something makes you feel sluggish or gross? Welp, now you know to avoid it. Another gives you that burst of energy to go all day? Welcome back old friend.

At the end of the day, what we put in our bodies should always go beyond taste, it should provide the energy to be who we really want to be. After that, what you accomplish is all up to you.